US begins training Syrian fighters in Turkey to combat ISIS - report

​The US military has begun training Syrian opposition fighters in Turkey, in an effort to combat the so-called Islamic State, sources revealed to media. The reported move is an extension of a program that launched in Jordan weeks ago.

A US official, who spoke
to Reuters on condition of anonymity, didn’t elaborate on the
size of the first group of recruits undergoing training, or when
the instruction started.

Washington hopes the program will
train around 5,000 Syrian fighters a year, giving US military
partners on the ground to help combat Islamic State (IS, formerly
ISIS/ISIL). The trainingkicked offin Jordan earlier this month.

According to the Obama administration, the program aims to target
only Islamic State forces – not troops loyal to Syrian President
Bashar Assad. However, critics – including the US Congress – say
that goal is not likely to be achieved.

The Syrians are being trained in basic military equipment and
skills, “including firearms, communications and command and
control abilities,” AP reported earlier in May.

The
training program was made possible by legislation authorized by
Congress last September, which set aside $500 million towards
training. The US has maintained its troops won’t engage with IS
fighters on the ground.

All US military training of Syrian opposition fighters is taking
place outside the country. Along with Turkey and Jordan, Saudi
Arabia and Qatar have offered to host training sites.

So far, US involvement in Syria has been mostly limited to
airstrikes – although special operations forces did kill a senior Islamic State leader there earlier
this month.